Word of Salvation – Vol. 13 No.52 – December 1967

 

Joy For Fear

 

Sermon by Rev. W. Wiersma on Luke 2:10

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:1-7; Luke 2:1-20

Psalter Hymnal: 350; 348’ 347; 344

 

Congregation of Jesus the Messiah,

During the night in which God became man, shepherds were abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  How well we know this!  Who of us would ever forget the popular shepherds, on Christmas Day.  They colour our Christmas cards.  They are part of our carols.  Even children know the text by heart.

In our imagination we have the whole scene before us: The flocks of sheep, asleep or quietly grazing in the moonlight.  One or two shepherds peering into the distance for any suspicious movements; their ears cocked for the cry of a lamb in pain.  The other shepherds half dozing, ready to jump to the defence of their animals.  Everything is very quiet.

There is peace in those lonely fields.  There is quietness and rest.  The quietness which can only be found in the country, away from noisy cities and towns.

It almost makes us jealous to think that these shepherds don't have to worry about last minute adjustments to Christmas trees and the presents under them.  No worries about who was accidently left off the Christmas mailing list.  No wild rush of drunken drivers from late parties, who will spend Christmas day with a headache.

Nor are the shepherds disturbed in their sleep by the booming of angry cannons or the rattle of machine gun fire.  They enjoy the quietness of the night; of days, in which man still had time to think and meditate.

But suddenly the stillness is broken!  The darkness of the night is pierced by the brightness of unearthly light.  An angel is standing right in front of them, the glory of the Lord shines round about them.

And in our imagination we see the faces of the shepherds light up with a smile.  They are glad.  The angel has finally appeared.

Yes, for us the appearance of the angel is always a climax.  When we see a play with the shepherds in the field we are already thinking of the sudden appearance of God's messenger.  For what are the shepherds without the angel.

But our imagination is wrong.  The shepherds were not thinking of angels.  It was the last thing they expected to happen.  For them it was no play.  And they were far from happy.  The sudden light made them panic.  It made them downright scared.

Imagine lying in bed.  All the lights are out, and you are just about to fall asleep; when all of a sudden everything lights up.  You discover that you are not alone.  An angel of God is standing beside you.  Wouldn't you wake up with a start?

How would you be, if you were sleeping out in the bush, some- one all of a sudden turned blinding lights onto you and made a direct telecast of you in your old clothes to thousands of viewers?  Perhaps now you can imagine how those shepherds felt when God turned on His heavenly light in the darkness of an earthly night; how sinful men reacted when they were caught in God's spotlight.

Yes, those shepherds were afraid.  They didn't know what had happened.  They were afraid of God's pure light.  For them it was a sure sign of doom.

Now we can see, can't we, why the angel had to say: "Don't be afraid any longer".  "Fear not"?

How important these words are in the whole of the Christmas story, as we read it in the Gospel of Luke.  Three times we hear the angel say: "Do not be afraid".  To Zechariah who became afraid when Gabriel suddenly appeared to him in the temple.  To the virgin Mary who was troubled by his words of greeting.  And now also to the shepherds.  To every one of them the angel must speak those soothing words: Do not be afraid.  He must calm their fears before he can bring them the main message.  "Fear not...!"  We should not misunderstand these words.  We should not misinterpret them as so many do today.  We may not take them to mean that there is nothing to be afraid of.  The angel never said: "Just go on as if nothing is wrong.  You are alright.”  Only the devil talks like that.  Satan has made man believe that God is a soft-hearted goody-goody.  The devil tries every trick to keep man from the truth.  He has encouraged parents to convince their children that God is the great hater, who sees only the bad things they do.  Those who would not fall for that have been tempted to think that everything is alright.

Even an archbishop is misled to write an editorial in which he says that in the first Christmas night "all things... were made valid through and through, because of the presence in the feeding trough of the Infant.  And this all men acknowledge in their celebration of this Event.  With trumpets from the stocking blaring at 5 a.m., the creaking board under the shoes of the Santa-father, the brandy flame on the pudding, the fear of indigestion, carnival hats..... and the grand flop on Boxing Day – with these too we honour God's birth....!'

But, I believe, a call to be afraid might be more in place here.  For the child that is born is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel.

Fear not...!  These words are not spoken to those who are not afraid.  God never wastes any words.

But this message of assurance is spoken precisely to those who are scared.  It is said to those who recognise the tremendous difference between their darkness and God's light.

It is said to those who know that their darkness is doomed by God's light.

It is for people who know their unworthiness to meet God or one of His angelic messengers; for men, woman and children who are troubled by their sins, that God has a message of comfort.  Especially on Christmas morning.  Do not be afraid.

For to you is born a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.  This is the good news of great joy which the angel came to bring.  This is the message to all people.  To rich and poor, educated and uneducated, successful and failing.  To everyone who is scared when he thinks of his own sinfulness and God's holiness, comes the message: "To you is born a Saviour.  There is a Saviour for you who are hopelessly caught in your weakness.  A saviour for you who fear an eternal death sentence.”

Brothers and sisters, young people, if the birth of the Saviour in Bethlehem does not bring you joy, then you have never understood the terrible nature and consequence of sin.  Nor has the message of Salvation ever entered your heart.  Only those who know their need of a saviour can appreciate the greatness of the angel's message.

The Saviour born on Christmas day is none other than Christ Jesus the Lord.  He is the promised Messiah.  The rescuer of God's people.  To humble shepherds in the fields of Ephratah the angel proclaims the greatest news ever told.  God's promise is fulfilled.

God Himself has come to rescue a people who cannot help themselves.  In the manger lies the light of the world.  Into the night of this sinful world has God's light of Life come.

Jesus has come to save.

This is the reason for our songs of praise today.  We sing, not for sentimental reasons; not because we want to hear some music or the sound of our own voices.  We sing because we have been given a Saviour.  We sing because we have experienced God's love.  A love so great that even our sins could not break it.  God has sent His Beloved; His only begotten Son.

To those frightened by His presence God says: Don't be afraid for I have provided the means to take the cause of your fear away.  With Jesus comes great relief.  With Him comes hope for the future.  For He the Lord and ruler of heaven and earth came to bring life instead of death, forgiveness instead of doom.  He came to give us a rightful place in the presence of God.  That is the reason for our songs of praise.  Our songs are a response to the call of Isaiah, "Get you up to a high mountain, O Jerusalem, herald of God's tidings, and let it be heard in cities and villages: Come is your Saviour, born is your King.  Rejoice with holy joy o fearful, broken heart of man, for behold, He is here; lo, here is your God."

This morning we remember and celebrate the fulfilment of this prophecy.  We remember the coming of God's own Son in our flesh, as our Brother.

Many will be in church today.  Many will sing.  But for whom will Immanuel (God with us) be a reality?  Who will sing with heart and soul?  Who will be joyful?

Isaiah tells us what Jesus does.

He brings a glad message..... to him who is truly afflicted, He comes to bind up..... to him who is really broken hearted, He proclaims liberty... to those who are actually in prison, He opens the prison... to him who is bound with real bonds, He comforts... those who really mourn, He shall cover with the mantle of praise everyone who is faint of spirit.

Yes congregation, it is those who are troubled by their sins and their miserable shortcomings, who will sing with true joy today.  Because the Messiah comes to give garlands to those on whose head he finds ashes.

Garlands for sorrow.  Joy for fear.

The Saviour who is Christ the Lord brings gladness to those who from their misery and death look up to him for salvation, joy and life.

Do you want the joy of Christmas, dear friend?

Do you want the glory of your Jesus to shine bright on this happy day?

Then, think of your unworthiness.  Think of your darkness and your sin.  And having thought of that, having been humbled, let the message of the angel penetrate your heart:

Fear not...!  For God so loves sorrowful sinners, that to you is born this day the Saviour, Christ Jesus the Lord.

Amen.